Q: I quit drinking Pepsi (I had been drinking four to five 20-ounce bottles per day!), and lost five pounds. Today I weigh 208 pounds, but I have weighed 208 pounds for two weeks now with no change. Why does the scale stay the same when my clothes are getting looser? My husband says I look great, but I'm frustrated!

-Donna L.

A: Hi Donna,

First off, congratulations on getting rid of the sugar-laden soft drinks! Just one simple change like that can have a profound impact on your health and weight, as you are noticing. As for your question, there are a number of possible reasons why the scale has not budged. One could be that you are beginning to plateau and need to make more adjustments. Getting rid of the soda was a great move, but perhaps healthier eating habits need to be established to continue the weight loss.

That said, you mentioned that your clothes are getting loose. If you are exercising, you may be replacing some of your fat weight for lean muscle, which is great! I would recommend that you start taking some girth measurements around your bust, waist, hips, and thighs to more accurately track what is going on. If the measurements are going down, you have nothing to worry about. The scale will eventually follow suit!